Wedding Video Packages and Prices in Los Angeles and Orange County

What format are we shooting HD or SD?

We shoot only High Definition HD Video or 35mm DSLR Digital Film.

We always carry backup gear and our gear is top notch and in great working condition.

What are the major difference between the packages?

All packages include our best shooting and editing unless you are selecting the basic package which is shot very safe and clean in a documentary fashion and will not include any cinematic shooting or editing more then adding professional titles.

All other packages are state of the art, use similar shooting and editing styles, include long hours or full day wedding coverage and the use of a real Steadicams (not a cheap glidecam), rails or even a Jib Crane. Some include a short form edit, same day edit, fusion film edits, ArtHouse edit, and most include a long version wedding edit since many families expect the longer format finished version that is studio edited. Just let us know what you need and we can steer you to the right package, or custom design a wedding video package to your requirements.

What is a Arthouse Edit?

Our Arthouse edit is a non-chronological, non-chapter based short film (about 10-25 minutes in length)

Before we start our Arthouse edit, we view all the video clips and listen to all of the audio and sound bites. The next step is to storyboard how the edit will be put together through music and sound bites in order to tell a compelling story. It's a very complicated and time consuming ordeal but it makes each film unique, entertaining and more empowering to watch. It's like watching one of our fusion edits, wedding movie trailer, or a same day edit for a long period of time yet keeps the emotions high throughout the entire length of the film. These packages also include a full cut of the Ceremony and all the Speeches as well a cut of the tableshots and interviews of guests. As always, we are happy to include raw footage if you supply a hard drive and return postage of same.

What is a Specialty Package?

Specialty packages are designed after years of experience filming wedding videos. We understand the specific needs of many ethnic weddings and designed the perfect packages that will cover everything correctly and artistically.

These packages usually entail longer days and a variety of special activities throughout the day. In most instances the use of two or more cameras are a must, not a luxury.

I am having a traditional wedding, what package is best for me?

Popular packages are for typical American or Western Style weddings, but can be applied to any wedding. We cover up to 8 hours (continuous) and have a variety of packages in that section depending on how many cameras you need or require.

Our Heritage Package contains longer hours, steadicam, rails and some DSLR 35mm shots.

I want to book a Popular Package, but my wedding day will have downtime after the ceremony and before the evening reception. I don't want to pay overtime for someone sitting around and not shooting, what can be done?

We offer a "split day fee" if your wedding will cover 8 hours (non-continuous) with one break in the afternoon. For instance, if your prep starts at 10am, ceremony starts at noon, but the reception starts at 6pm and ends at 11pm. You might be able to send us on break after the ceremony and family photo session is finished and meet you in the evening before the reception begins.

With a split day fee, you will not incur any overtime charges, however, we are still scheduled to shoot the numbers of hours contracted for and not more. If you are planning on going to the park and around town for a few hours after the ceremony, and you want us to capture that too, that would not qualify as a split day and you might want to consider a package that covers more hours. Split day fee's usually range around $150 per camera.

What is a Same Day Edit (SDE)?

With a Same Day edit, one of our artistic digital video editors accompany us to your wedding and edit events during the wedding in order to have a finished version ready to be shown during the evening reception. The Same Day edit is between 3-5 minutes long and can feature musical interludes and sound bites or just set to music. You are welcome to guide us to the style you are looking for or just leave it up to our skilled team.

Same Day Edit Packages only include the same day edit. As a nice addition, you might want to add a full feature edit or an ArtHouse edit if you desire a longer version for the entire family to enjoy.

A Same Day Edit can be added to most packages as an option.

What is an ArtHouse Edit?

Our ArtHouse Edit is a 10-20 minute film featuring a number of shorter more exciting sections of your wedding day. Unlike a typical DVD where events mostly happen in order, the ArtHouse Edit brings you back and forth in time allowing you to reflect on your wedding day like nothing seen before.

What is a DSLR Film Package

35MM DSLR Digital Film Fusion packages are shot with extremely high end gear which are not camcorders. They are not meant to capture long drawn out events and are best when shown as a SDE or ArtHouse production. The beauty of these cameras lies in the Depth of Field they produce, the use of their super huge sensors for the best color reproduction, and the use of Luxury Series Canon Digital Photography lenses for the sharpest imagery obtainable. Now, there is nothing wrong with HD video, its gorgeous, but DSLR takes your wedding into a completely different realm.

These cameras are also not easy to control, the Depth of Field and lack of viewfinder or auto focus means the cinematographer operating this gear has to be better then any camcorder guy. The slightest distance change from subject to camera means a focusing issue can occur which would not be pleasant to watch. At your wedding, nothing is planned, nothing is staged, and nothing is rehearsed for your film. You are not actors or actresses, and your day goes by quickly. Its very important that the cinematographers in control of these cameras have years of experience with weddings and understand how to anticipate action and reaction and what's going to happen next.

We get a ton of film guys asking to join our team, yet only one out of a thousand can show us any real work on these cameras that would be acceptable by us. We estimate out of an 8 hour day, they can only get a handful of shots that count when we need tons of great shots to make even one short 3 minute vignette. We have to say that owning one of these cameras has nothing to do with what an operator can or can not do as they requires a skill set that few possess.

Many photographers that normally own a DSLR that has a video button are finding out these problems quickly since they are shooting test home videos where everything is out of focus and they can not keep focus on any moving subject and maintain depth of field. Film is not photography, photography needs one click, one instance, where film need a succession of usable frames to work.

While DSLR HD Video was a neat feature for a still camera, most great photographers have shelved the idea of it being practical in a live shoot where subjects are moving. What we have seen is a lot of wide shooting, no close ups, and no motion shots, so that means they are losing the Depth of Field that sets these cameras apart from a video camcorder and losing the artistic edge. So yes, what is desirable from these camera is also working against the cinematographer at all times. Its the hardest camera in the world to shoot! We make it look easy, but it's not, hence the higher rates for these packages.

Other considerations

We understand there are many mixed marriages, so if one package is not exactly the same details as your wedding, just let us know. We have filmed Jewish / Japanese weddings, Filipino / Spanish weddings, Vietnamese / Korean weddings, American / Indian weddings, and many other combinations and in most cases what is happening during your event will fall under a specialty package anyway, but we can not post packages of every kind of mixed marriage so don't let the name of the package deter you to contact us to discuss your needs.

We are extremely knowledgeable about weddings and not just the video portion of it. Our years of experience and amount of weddings we do each year makes us experts discovering problems with your timeline, photography needs vs video needs, audio systems your DJ might or might not be using, and other questions that you might not be aware of. Please talk to us at 888-854-7278 as we are happy to consult and share our knowledge and experience with you. Do not be afraid to ask us anything on your mind as we like to help. No question is too silly to ask, we are the experts and you need someone that can give you the inside story and help make clear many common questions.

You are too good to be true. Are you a real company or just a fly by night video guy?

Video Keepsakes was established in 1978 and is still a family run organization creating the most sophisticated cutting edge wedding and event videography year after year.

We have never missed or been late to a job in all these years. Generations of families have trusted us to be part of their heritage and we have filmed generation to generation and continue to enjoy what we do on a daily basis.

Our work has taken us around the globe and our client list is extensive and sheik.

We are licensed and insured and hold valid resale certificates, which means we are legally operating. Many reputable venues insist that vendors setting foot on their properties are licensed and complying with State and Local Laws.

However, unlike a fly-by-night video company, we have to charge sale tax when appropriate. Los Angeles sales tax is currently 9.75%. This tax helps local schools, builds roads and other public needs.